Uncoupling means



May 13, 1924. 1,493 804 F. D. CAMPBELL ET AL UNCOUPLING MEANS Filed Sept. 13. 1922 Patented May 13, 1924.

1,493,804 PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRIGK D. CAMIBELL AND OTTO E. '1. SGHUETZE, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

UNCOUIPLING MEANS.

Application filed September 13, 1922. Serial No. 587,930.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDRIGK D. CAMP- BELL and O'r'ro E. T. SGHUETZE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Uncoupling Means, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of our specification.

Our invention relates to means for uncoupling or actuating the locking element of couplers for cars and locomotlves; the invention having for its object the provision of a construction which may be easily operated from the side of the car or locomotive.

The invention, generally stated, consists in suitably mounting an uncoupling element or rod and an integrally connected lever which has a special type of connecttion member with the lock-lifter of the coupler; that is to say, our improved uncoupling rod and lever is so disposed and has connection with the upper end of the lock-lifter so as to provide suitable leverage and at the same time permit easy operation of the lock-lifter; the uncoupling lever in turn being mounted in suitable brackets secured on the striking block or bumper beam.

The objects and advantages of our invention will be more readily comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved device as applied to a locomotive.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the offset line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of our improved connecting member.

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of one of the supporting brackets as employed in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail view in perspective of the lifting lever of the device.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of our invention.

In the exemplification of the invention as disclosed in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, our improved uncoupling means is shown applied to the bumper beam 10 of a locomotive which is shown provided with suitable straps or brackets 11 depending from the bumper beam; the lower ends of the straps or brackets being disposed forwardly to receive the foot-board or step 12 as well as the upstanding members or risers 13 and 14; at the rear longitudinal edge of the step 12 and at the inner end thereof, so as to prevent the switchmen or operators foot slipping off the step. The riser members 13 and 14 are, respectively, suitably bolted, as at 15, to the depending straps or brackets 11 and by the bolts 16 to the step proper. In the drawing, we have shown a pair of steps at opposite sides of the coupler indicated at 17.

The top of the bumper beam 10 is provided with a plurality of brackets 18, preferably of the construction more clearly shown in Figure 5 and comprising the foot or attaching base 19 formed integral with the upstanding portion 20 which is preferably curved slightly forward at the upper end, as shown at 21. The upstanding portion 20, intermediate of its ends, is shown apertured as at 22-for the passage of our lmproved uncoupling rod, while the forwardly presented upper end or lobe 21 is apertured at 23 for the passage of a suitable hand-rail 2 1; the hand-rail being of any suitable construction and held against longitudinal movement in any suitable manner.

The uncoupling means, as disclosed in the first six figures of the drawing, consists of an arm or lever 25 shown in detail in Figure 6, which may be of suitable metal and length to extend from a point in alignment with the brackets 18 to a point immediately above the lock-lifter 26 of the coupler 17, as shown in Figure 2. The arm or lever 25 is shown preferably tapered toward the outer end and provided with 1ongitudinal vertical and horizontal ribs in order to provide strength and rigidity while at the same time provide a comparatively light construction. The rear or base end of the lever or arm 25 is provided with an integral hub portion disposed laterally to opposite sides of the longitudinal center line thereof, as shown at 27 in Figure 6. The hub 27 is shown bifurcated or split horizontally to provide the parallel lobes or portions 28 beyond the rod-receiving socket or opening 29. With the arm or lever 25 made of suitable metal, such as cast steel for example, the extensions or ears 28 may be drawn together by means of suitable bolts disposed through the apertures 30 thereby contracting the bifurcations of the hub and providing a firm clamping relation with the inner ends of the two-part uncoupling rod or rocker shaft 31 which is disposed through the apertures 22 of the brackets 18.

The double ended uncoupling shaft or rod shown in Figure 1 consists of similar sections 31 extending from opposite sides of the locomotive or car with the inner ends preferably squared or of configuration corresponding with the configuration of the socket or opening 29, in the hub of the lever or arm 25; and these ends may also be firmly held in place by means of suitable tapered pins disposed through registering openings in the hub 27 and the inner ends of the rods 31, as shown at 32 in Figures 3 and 6. The outer ends of the rods 31 are disposed at an angle to the main portion to provide the handles whereby rotation of the rods31 may be easily brought about.

The outer end of the lever or arm 25, which is disposed preferably directly above the lock lifter 26, is bent downwardly and into loop form, or enlarged eye, as shown at 34k in Figure 6, and is adapted to receive a connection member or element 35, see Figure 4. The connecting member 35 is preferably shown somewhat U-shape in form, with the two sides or ends in turn bent into loop form, parallel with each other as shown at 36, 36, and disposed substantially at right angles to the main or intermediate portion 37 of the connecting member or element The connecting member or element 35 is made from a single piece of suitable metal, such as cast malleable iron or wrought iron, with the open upper end which permits the same to be inserted through the eye of the lock lifter 26; while the looped upper ends are intended to hook over and into the loop or ring 34: formed on the outer end of the lever 25. After the connecting member or element 35 has been passed through the eye of the lock-lifter and the looped ends have been passed into the ring or loop as of the arm or lever 25, the openings in the looped ends 36 of the connecting member 35, as well as in the loop or ring 34: of the arm or lever 25, are then sprung together so as to prevent possibility of becoming disconnected and a positive connection between the lever or arm 25 and the lock lifter 26 of the coupler provided; while at the same time providing a construction wherein dismantling or disconnecting of the elements may be easily accomplished by simply springing the loop or ring 3 slightly apart, thereby enabling the loop ends 36 of connecting member 35 to be disconnected from the arm or lever 25. When the various elements have been assembled in the manner described, a direct positive connection with the coupler lock-lifter 26 is provided, while a slight yielding connection with the arm or lever 25 is provided whereby the arm or lever 25 may swing through the arc of a circle during operation of the device. The operating connection between the le er or arm 25 and the lock-lifter, while adapted to compensate for the differences in movement, will not buckle or kinl: and a construction is provided which meets the requirements in devices of this character and. which will. permit positive operation of the coupler locklifter or locking block through oscillation of the operating rod from either side of the car or locomotive by means of the handle portion 33.

In the type illustrated in Figure 1, the connecting member 35 may be made of cast malleable iron, while the arm or lever 25 may be made of cast steel and the connection shown is especially intended for use on locomotives, wherein a double ended uncoupling lever is desirable to permit operation from opposite sides of the locomotive.

In the modified form of the invention, as disclosed in Figure 7, the uncoupling rod and lover is shown formeu of a single piece of metal, as for example wrought iron; the rod, shown in section at 38, being disposed through suitable brackets as at 39 arranged on the bumper beam or striking block 10 at the end of the car, with the outer end of the rod preferably bent at an angle thereto to provide a handle as at 33 in Figure 1, while the inner end (which is disposed at the longitudinal axis of the car) is bent forwardly to provide the integral arm 40, the outer end whereof is bent downwardly into loop form as at 41, substantially similar to the loop or ring portion 34 of the arm or lever 25. The downwardly disposed loop end 41, before being bent into substantially closed condition, is adapted to receive the connecting member or element 35 similar in construction and made of a single piece of suitable metal, such as wrou ht iron; the looped upper ends of the member 35 being also preferably forced into closed condition after the connecting member 35 has been inserted through the eye of the lock-lifter or locking block 26 in the manner previously described. The construction shown in Figure 7 is especially applicable for use on freight cars, where the operating rod need merely extend from one side of the car.

The constructions shown and described provide means whereby a positive connection with the lock-lifter is had, permitting sufficient-freedom between the rocker-shaft or rod and the lock-lifter controlling element, without likelihood of accidental disconnection and composed of comparatively few parts; so constructed, however, that a dismantling of the means may be had when de sired; the invention having been described in terms employed merely as terms of description and not as terms of limitations, as structural modifications are possible and may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention.

What we claim is 1. Uncoupling means of the character described, comprising a rocker shaft provided with a forwardly disposed arm terminating in a downwardly bent eye or loop, and a lock-lifter controlling member composed of a single piece of metal bent into U-shape, the two sides of the member being bent into elongated loops arranged parallel with each other, said elongated loops being intended to pass through the eye or loop of the rocker shaft while the intermediate portion of the U-shape member is adapted to pass though the eye of the lock-lifter.

2. Uncoupling means of the character described, comprising a two-part rocker shaft provided at the outer ends with handle portions, an arm or lever provided with a trans versely disposed hub socketed to receive the inner ends of the two-part rocker shaft, the other end of the arm terminating in a down wardly disposed loop arranged substantially in alignment with the lock-lifter of the couler, means for remova'bly securing the arm or lever to the adj acent ends of the two part rocker shaft, and a lock-lifter controlling member composed of a single piece of metal bent into U-shape, the two sides of the member being bent into loops arranged parallel with each other and adapted to pass through, the loop of said arm or lever while the intermediate portion of the U-shape member is adapted to pass through the eye of the lock-lifter.

3. Uncoupling means of the character described, comprising a rocker shaft provided with a forwardly disposed arm, the end whereof is provided with a downwardly disposed loop, and a lock-lifter engaging member comprising a U-shaped link, the sides whereof are formed into parallel loops disposed at right angles to the intermediate or lock-lifter engaging portion, said parallel loops being wardly disposed loop of arm.

4. In uncoupling means of the character described, a longitudinally ribbed arm of malleable metal, provided at one end with a transversely disposed contractible shaftreceiving hub and at the other end with a downwardly disposed contractible loop, and a lock-lifter engaging member of malleable metal bent into U-shape, with the sides thereof bent into parallel loops disposed at right angles to the intermediate lock-lifter engaging portion, with the side loops being disposed through the contractible loop of said arm.

disposed through the downthe rocker-shaft FREDRICK D. CAMPBELL. OTTO E. T. SCHUETZE.

Witnesses L. O. SARGENT, RUSSELL WILSON. 

